News

New Software Version 1.9

30/04/2014

The “Spring Release 2014” brings several new elements to the table, such as the Media Gallery, Statistics Charts, the metronome, March in Place protocol!

Media Gallery

The patient panel can now be used to access the "MediaGallery" module: the aim of this section is to archive images and videos of postural situations without needing to carry out a test with the bars. You can take photographs, record videos and capture stills, making the patient assume various poses which are useful for evaluating his/her anthropometric measurements, posture or pathologies. The photos or still images can be processed using editing tools (grids, draw lines, angles, etc.), as is already the case for still frames from the test videos.

Statistics Charts

Both during a test and in the subsequent data viewing and analysis, instead of the traditional bar or line charts, it is possible to view a pie chart depicting the division of time elapsed between specific thresholds defined previously.

The same panel used to configure the second monitor can also be used to indicate which value is to be taken into consideration (Stance, Swing, Step Length, Jump Height, Contact Times, etc.) and which 'warning threshold' and 'bad threshold' values are to be set.

In the example below we can see how asymmetric (right/left) the patient is during a treadmill gait test in terms of step length, in relation to the thresholds set:

The statistics chart shows that in a total of approximately 30 seconds testing, for 26% (7.8 s) of this period asymmetry was under 5%, 65% of the time (19.3 s) it was between 5% and 15%, and just 9% of the time (2.6 s) asymmetry was over 15%.

In this second example, however, we see the use of 'Absolute Value' mode where, in a 'Jumps 60 seconds' test, the Height value is compared with a reference value of 30 cm: 31% of the time the patient jumped over 27 cm (30 cm – 10% of the warning threshold), 26% of the time he/she jumped between 24 and 27 cm, and 43% of the time he/she jumped under 24 cm.

This new mode, which can also be used in real-time DURING the test, means the exercise is no longer simply 'diagnostic', but a real working tool the patient can use for self-improvement.

Metronome

While performing certain exercises (gait, walking on the spot, jumps), some patients find it easier to maintain a cadence if they are able to follow a constant rhythmic sound. OptoGait has a virtual 'metronome' function which can be used to set the cadence in bpm (beats per minute) and the tone (single or double).

In this software version, the sound is generated and reproduced by the PC sound card, as a reference for the patient only; future releases should record metronome beats in addition to the test data, correlating it with various events (e.g. step cadence, jump, etc.) which take place.

Video Feedback Improvements (Double Screen)

The following changes have been made to the configuration of the Second Screen (Video Feedback module):

The configuration panel is now on the main screen used by the operator (who is often unable to view or far away from the second screen used by the patient).

The mode 'Absolute Value' has been added to Asymmetry mode: in this mode it is possible to set a Reference value for a specific measurement (e.g. Jump Height = 30 cm, Step Length = 70 cm, Contact Time = 0.6 s., etc.) and view deviation in real time

The selected settings are now linked and saved to the Patient/Test Type pair; this means a patient who always performs the same test type will be able to recall the parameters set previously

MIP (March in Place) Protocol

The MIP protocol consists of two tests in which the patient must march on the spot for 30 seconds, the first time with his/her eyes open and the second with his/her eyes closed.

The test is defined with a starting point INSIDE the area and the right foot as the starting foot (the patient should therefore begin the test BY LIFTIING the right foot first).

Using a two-dimensional system, the report will provide information relating to both forward-backward and middle-side movement for the two tests (obviously with a linear system we would only have one of these measurements).

Under the figures, we can see the data relating to the last point (end of test), or rather the forward-backward movement, middle-side movement, distance and Alpha angle measured as described later on.

New Predefined Test March In Place

The default tests now include a 20-second March in Place test (inside start, undefined starting foot) and the two March in Place tests required for the MIP protocol.

Hi-Speed Ximea and Basler Webcam Support

In addition to Logitech Hd Pro C920 and C930 webcams, OptoJump Next now supports Hi-speed professional webcams (up to 120 frames per second).

Both webcams support C-mount and CS-mount technology and can be set up with one or more lenses of various focal length (several TV or several wide-angle) depending on the desired position in relation to the subject to be recorded.

We should mention that Hi-Speed cameras need more light than a normal webcam or 25/30 fps video camera; it is therefore recommended that they operate in well-lit environments (out in the open or in suitably powerful artificial light).

Due to the substantial data rate of the hi-speed video stream (especially at high resolution), if you want to use a pair of these cameras, the PC must have two separate USB 3.0 buses, as a single one would be saturated immediately.

Full HD Resolution for Logitech 920/930 Webcam

FULL-HD 1920x1080 resolution at 30 fps can now be set for the Logitech webcam (C920 or C930).

This resolution is implemented particularly effectively when we extract still images to perform editing procedures on angles, postures, etc.

As it is the stream of these webcams compressed natively by the hardware (H.264), the aforementioned USB bus saturation problem fortunately does not arise.

Various

The Results module now has a setting for excluding the automatic filter on the type of test (useful if you want to select a variety of tests to export).

If you select the button <PRINT> in the same module, a number of printouts or PDF files will be produced in line with the number of tests present. The file name now also contains the name of the patient.

The list of existing languages has been updated to include Russian and Ukrainian.